"As we move forward into the 21st
century, it is up to us to identify the essential elements of current multi-literacies
and promote them, to address the special characteristics of each of today's
media and technology, and to create the personal and institutional flexibility
to change and learn as the world does."
Literacies at the End of the Twentieth
Century
Rapidly changing technologies and
growing diversity are dramatically reshaping how we live our lives. This is
especially true in the classroom and library where most young people do not
remember a time without the World Wide Web and technology has transformed the
opportunities for learning. More than ever, the ability to be
information literate by defining an information need, accessing and evaluating
resources in multiple forms, using information effectively, and creating content
is critical for full participation in society. Likewise, cultural, media and
visual literacies recognize that all information is constructed within a social,
political, and cultural context and thus requires interpretation, sensitivity
and awareness.
As educators transition from more
traditional teaching methods to those that are inquiry based, students must
self-direct their own learning, cooperate with classmates from diverse backgrounds,
and think critically about the abundance of information made available through
technological developments. Librarians face the same challenges with users as
the Internet and other electronic media become the prevalent methods by which
information is accessed. Young people without a constellation of 21st century
literacy skills will surely be left behind. Literacies at the End of the Twentieth
Century further describes many of the literacies we encounter everyday.
This content was orignially created and posted March 5, 2002
These resources were created to support the AT&T/UCLA Initiative for the 21st Century Literacies.
